Fabric printing system and method utilizing a removable/reusable fabric backing

Abstract

A system and method for adhering a fabric to a backing substrate is disclosed. The system includes at least one roll of a reusable backing substrate, wherein the reusable backing substrate supports the fabric during a printing process. The system also includes at least one roll of fabric and a lamination system for removably adhering the fabric to the backing substrate. A print zone is configured for receiving the backed fabric and prints a pattern on the backed fabric. After the pattern is printed, the fabric is removed from the backing substrate and the backing substrate may be reused in another printing process. The invention is also directed to a method for printing a pattern on a layer of fabric using a reusable backing substrate and a laminated backing substrate used in the disclosed system and method.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for printing a pattern on a fabric, comprising: providing a backing substrate comprising a release liner removably adhered to an adhesive, wherein said adhesive is disposed on a carrier; removing said release liner from said adhesive; adhering a fabric to at least a portion of said adhesive disposed on said carrier to form a backed fabric; printing a pattern on said backed fabric; removing said fabric from said portion of said adhesive disposed on said carrier; and re-adhering said release liner to said adhesive disposed on said carrier. 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: providing said backing substrate on a first roll; unrolling said first roll of said backing substrate; and re-rolling said backing substrate on a second roll. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein removing said release liner from said adhesive, adhering said fabric to said at least portion of said adhesive, printing said pattern on said backed fabric, removing said fabric from said portion of said adhesive, and re-adhering said release liner to said adhesive occur simultaneously. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein adhering said fabric to said adhesive comprises: providing a roller and a large radius drum; and rolling said fabric and said backing substrate between said roller and said large radius drum. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising conditioning said fabric before said fabric is adhered to said portion of said adhesive. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein printing said pattern on said backed fabric comprises passing said backed fabric through a print zone comprising at least one ink-jet printer. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein removing said release liner from said backing substrate comprises: providing a peel roller; and passing said backing substrate over said peel roller to remove said release liner from said backing substrate.